RockTheCapital.org
Press Release
March 22, 2007
Contact:
ericepstein@comcast.net
Eric Epstein, Coordinator
Phone: (717)-541-1101
Twelve Step Program to Reform the
“PHEAA is governed by an independent, bi-partisan Board
of Directors
comprised of twenty
members,
sixteen of whom are also members of the Pennsylvania General
Assembly.”
“The General Assembly regularly depends on PHEAA to best
administer a variety of state-funded programs at no cost to
taxpayers.”
“PHEAA Board of
Directors Rejects Unsolicited Takeover Bid,” December 27, 2004
1) No
individual indicted or arraigned by state or federal authorities for
felonious conduct can continue to serve on the Board.
2) The
Board should be reduced from 20 to nine (9) members.
3) The
Board should be composed of directors with appropriate skill sets
in accounting, community banking, economics, education, finance, marketing or
statistics.
4) Board
members should be nominated by the Governor and approved by 37 senators.
5) No
current member of the legislative or executive branches of state government
should be a eligible to serve as a member of the Board thereby nullifying the
claim that Board members "compel the conclusion that the legislative members of
PHEAA's board are acting as an arm of the General Assembly when they engage in
PHEAA activities" (Richard Wiley, PHEAA, “Final Decision”, June 7, 2006.)
"PHEAA is engaged in a profitable business,
the earnings from which
provide significant benefits to the citizens of
That, however, doesn't
change the fact that it is a public corporation and
governmental instrumentality and
that its earnings are
public moneys."
Warren G.
Morgan, a retired
6) PHEAA’s
current Board of Directors, together with senior management, should issue a
statement acknowledging that PHEAA is not exempt from
7) PHEAA
should reimburse the legal costs of the three news organizations that
filed Right to Know requests, i.e., the Associated Press, the Patriot-News of
8) PHEAA’s
current Board of Directors, together with senior management, should issue a
statement apologizing for misconduct, and release the outstanding
records requested by the above-named news agencies.
“Created by state law in 1963, PHEAA was intended to become a
public service agency and a perpetual asset for the Commonwealth
- - specifically to make
higher education more affordable and accessible for any student who has the
desire to achieve.”
10) PHEAA’s
Board should issue a statewide RFP for bond lawyers not affiliated with
senior management or the Board of Directors.
10) PHEAA’s
Board should issue a statewide RFP for counsel not affiliated with senior
management or the Board of Directors.
11) PHEAA’s
Board should issue a statewide RFP for a forensic audit to
be conducted by an entity not affiliated with senior management or the Board of
Directors.
12) PHEAA’s
Board should issue a statewide RFP for an Executive Director
not affiliated with senior management or the Board of Directors